The_Gootch said:

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I think if he wins the nomination he'll double down on the crazy and pick Joe Arpaio to be his runningmate.  

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Corribus said:

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Honestly all the major front runners in both parties either scare the hell out of me, or I wouldn't trust farther than I could throw them. Unless there's some drastic shakeup, I'll probably vote third party or write in myself.

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Minion said:

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Do not count Bernie "Feel the Bern" Sanders out just yet. He is gaining momentum pretty fast. He leads in Iowa and New Hampshire by a large margin.

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Quote:

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Before I begin; we need to remember what George Washington had to say to the nation when he left office for the last time.

From “Washington’s Farewell Address” September 18, 1796.

“Let me now…warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but in those of the popular form it is seen in its greatest rankness and is truly their worst enemy.
    The alternate domination of one faction over the other, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purpose of his own elevation on the ruins of the public liberty…”

My fellow Americans,

I could write a great deal about why our current election process is pandering to outside forces and failing the People but most Americans should already know that we are poorly represented by our own government. The chief reason, is that very powerful lobbies (business & others) and special interest groups absolutely own our present system.

Americans complain about the condition of the present system but that’s all we do and what good has that done? As long as “We the People”  just whine and act the victim, things will never change. Simply put, we have allowed a faulty and abused election process to continue unchecked by looking away in disgust and ignoring the power of our collective vote. Too often, one in four Americans vote today and are reduced to the “voting for the lesser of two evils.”

I believe that if all treasure and reward were removed from the current election-process, the People’s system of Electing their Representation could truly go back to work for Americans again and all special-interests would be purged.

Wisdom does not only complain, it takes constructive action or no change will happen. What if “We the People” change our Election Process to address the problems we already know exist?

The Election Process Reform Act {by the American People}

1. The cost of the election process will be paid up front by the peoples taxes.
a. The amount to be spent on the entire American election system will be voted and set.
b. The people will decide the tools and methods that will be used in the voting process. In general, forms of media used for the process, candidate information provided and how presented and debate formats.
2. The American People will elect an independent committee to oversee this referendum. The entire committee will oversee this budget and the chairman will report.
a. The committee will have an elected chairman and that person will report directly to the people and their elected representation.
b.  The size of this voting oversight committee and compensation will be decided by the American people.
c. The people will decide the length of service.
d. The people will decide and elect review and reporting processes.
3. Any money that comes into the election process by any other means will be considered a felony. The people will decide the penalties for this serious crime. Whatever years of imprisonment or amount of fines, once established by the people, if a person is found guilty by a court of tampering with the American election process the sentence will be mandatory and non-negotiable.

Note: As with any process change, this is A beginning and it is important that the People in pursuing this new amendment, should expect to work and control the new process until they have the desired results. This entire process belongs to the American voter and by majority vote they can amend their own process. However, one hard law must be present from the start; there must be total independence from all formal government and all political agency. The purpose of this act is dependent on this total independence from all other interest, purposes and rewards.

Other ideas that might be in this Election-Reform or in other Measures to follow.

1. No person holding office can write a book under their own name or any pen-name. After leaving office, a ban for a certain amount of years seems a good idea, since somehow it’s became the norm for office-holders to safeguard office/personal information for as much as “a life-time.” But, the American People decide that issue…period; and concerning all elected and appointed office.

(Reason) Said person has been elected to serve the People and has NOT been given an all-expenses ticket to feather their own nest, their families future or benefit their personal friends and supporters.

2. No person that accepts an office can leave that office and represent the “Nations, Organizations, Corporations or Special-Interest-Lobbies that are in conflict with said office. I.e. If an elected official was elected to safe-guard American-Natural Parks, than they cannot leave office and go to work for the “interests” that are wanting to privatize those same National holdings of the American People.

(Reason) This should be a no-brainer but it should be obvious that this practice has lead to the corruption and manipulation of the American Government for selfish personal gain, ensuring a bright future for these compromised individuals. Note: the old definition of this mal-practice could be classified as “conflict of interest” collusion or plain personal vested interest…simply called Greed.

3. A future amendment; The salary provided to an office holder will be “Approved by the American People” and never determined by current holders of Public Office.  Note: There could be a signed-contract between The People and the Elect.

4. If an Elected-Official is found corrupt or negligent in Office, the American People should have all authority to immediately and forever remove the offender from Public-Office. The present accepted notion that once a person is elected they are nearly immune to instant dismissal, is a strong incentive towards mismanagement of the Public interest. I.e. If an elected official seldom attends meetings where they are not only expected to attend but expected to represent the American People and instead their efforts are found on golf-courses or speaking at fund-raisers for their own Party-Politics, it seems not only reasonable but imperative for future sound government, that these types of individuals, should be sent home and replaced by another person that does want to work and represent the People on any and every issue facing this country.

Note: Ancient Greek democracy held that once a year a vote of no-confidence would be held, where if a person that had misrepresented themselves in order to gain election or a person, once elected, ignored the public need and instead served their own personal gain would be ostracized and dismissed from office. This “corrective vote” was real power in the hands of the voters to correct election abuse; has there not been enough evidence that this measure is needed now?  

Another issue; The present reality that elected officials in essence become a new class of Americans which are shielded and exempt from the same laws and programs they legislate and control is unacceptable.

In closing; It is a commonly held belief by those that have made it to power, that the average American-voter is not smart enough to make decisions regarding the best interest of the citizens of the United States of America. Since our representatives have for decades ignored all of George Washington’s warnings about what to prevent happening in government, why should what YOU think matter? If YOU don’t matter then what does? Money. Money rules today and not “We the People.”

If the people will vote all outside-money out of the American voting-process, decide the system to be used and pay for the system up-front, only then can they hope to regain the real and intended power of their vote. The Parties, the Corporations must leave the stage and then the American people can dictate what follows.

Markkur, July 2012

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fred79 said:

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had a long rant here, but snow it.

i'll never understand why people think their vote matters a whit. i'll just leave it at that.

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OmegaDestroyer said:

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I'm betting on Christie.

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OmegaDestroyer said:

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I think one thing we can all agree upon is that this presidential race is certainly fascinating.  

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OmegaDestroyer said:

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I think one thing we can all agree upon is that this presidential race is certainly fascinating.  

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mvassilev said:

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Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia has died. Will Obama be able to get a nominee through Congress before his term ends, or will that be part of the spoils of winning the presidency?

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AlexSpl said:

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Well, what can I say? You've missed the chance to elect the best president of the United States of America since Lincoln times (Ron Paul). Shame on you. Now I think the only adequate candidate is Donald Trump. All the others are look like college students.

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